Lodge



Feb. 7, 1956 A. LODGE DRIVE FOR DOMESTIC LAUNDERING MACHINES OriginalFiled May 1, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l Milk IN V EN TOR.

Alvin 0 (/50 ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1956 A. LODGE DRIVE FOR DOMESTICLAUNDERING MACHINES Original Filed May 1, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Hu 536| 1 I 57 5q 5 '5 4- 77 I M A ;'L I {r 54 1 .1... r7 1 g -2 5 V l] l 5|q l :U' o H II! !I A .8 l 'l '6 l3 l7 3 4'5 41L Fax 2.

86 13 q! .ll H Q2 10 W I H 3 l I I F 16 3 INVENTOR.

Alvin Lodge,

Feb. 7, 1956 A. LODGE 2,733,610

DRIVE FOR DOMESTIC LAUNDERING MACHINES Original Filed May 1, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

ATTOR MEY A I vln Lodgc Feb. 7, 1956 A. LODGE 2,733,610

DRIVE FOR DOMESTIC LAUNDERING MACHINES Original Filed May 1, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

2,733,610 DRIVE FOR'DOMESTIC LAUNDERING MACHINES Alvin Lodge, Erie, Pa.,assignor to Blackstone Corporation, Jamestown, N. Y.,.a corporation ofNew York Substituted for application Serial No. 285,509, May 1, 1952.This application January 26, 1954, Serial No. 406,123

4 Claims. (21. 74-81) This invention generally relates to improvementsin domestic washing machines of the type in which a single receptacle isutilized for the operations of washing, rinsing, and centrifugallydrying clothes, and is a substitution for my abandoned application,Serial No. 285,509, filed May 1, 1952. More particularly, the inventionis directed to structural features having to do with the operation ofwashing clothes by means of an oscillatable agitator.

In all washing machines of the type to which this invention relates, ithas heretofore been necessary to provide clutch mechanisms to enableboth oscillating and rotating motions. These clutch mechanisms, from thevery nature of their use, are required to be of rugged construction inorder to be capable of satisfactory operation over a long period oftime, even when a machine is operated in a careless or unskilled manner.In fact, many breakdowns in machines of this type are directlyattributable to damaged or worn clutch mechanisms.

The present invention is directed to and has for a pur pose and objectthereof, the provision of a mechanism that is particularlywell suitedfor use to connect or disconnect a washing agitator with a source ofpower without the use of any parts that are required to bodily move intoand out of engagement to effect such connection or disconnection.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a mechanismthat, not only is capable of transforming a rotary motion into anoscillating motion, but includes parts that are adjustable at will torender the mechanism operative or inoperative as between the source ofpower and an oscillatable member.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a mechanismfor transforming rotary motion into oscillating motion through the useof cooperative eccentrics, the eccentrics being relatively adjustable toselectively effect oscillating motion or to neutralize such motion.

Another and important object of the invention lies in the provision of amechanism that is rendered operative or inoperative by reason of thedirection of rotation of certain of the parts thereof.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a mechanismof such proportions and construction as to be capable of assembly intothe base of a washing machine receptacle and serves, during a dryingoperation, as a part of the ballast of said receptacle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from a consideration of the following specification, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which Fig. 1 is a sideelevational view of a cabinet enclosed washing machine in which one formof the present inven tion is embodied, a part of the side wall of saidcabinet being broken away to disclose the general location andarrangement of the parts of the inventive structure;

, Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View ofthe central portion of the receptacle base and mounting therefor, thereceptacle being shown in a position in which an agitating operation maytake place; Fig. 3 is a still further enlarged vertical sectional view,taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 5 and shows the parts of theoscillating mechanism in neutral or inop erative position;

Fig. 4 is an exploded vertical sectional view of the' parts shown inFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, the partsthereof being disposed in inoperative or nonoscillating relationship;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and shows the position of the partswhen the mechanism is adjusted to produce oscillating movement; and

Fig. 7 is a further plan View of the mechanism and shows therelationship of the parts during their adjustclosing the generalproportions required to enclose the.

structure. The cabinet may be considered as divided into upper and lowercompartments 11 and 12, respectively, by

a partition 13. This partition is attached, in any suitable manner, tothe cabinet walls and terminates in a centered circular opening 14 thatis defined by an upstanding rim 16. The opening 14 receives certainoperative structure. A ring-like opening, between rim 16 and thisstructure, is bridged by a flexible boot 17 which is rolled upon andclamped to the rim 16 as suggested at 18. The inner edge of this boot issecured by a clamp 19 to a housing of the structure that projectsthrough the opening 14.

The compartment 12 encloses the driving mechanism of the device. ln thepresent instance, a suspension is provided for this mechanism in theform of a series of rods 21, the upper and outwardly directed ends ofwhich are suitably attached to the walls of the cabinet. The lower,inner ends of these rods project through flanges 22 of depending straps23 that form part of a motor support. Blocks 24 have threaded engagementwith the ends of the rods 21 and enable adjustment to provide balancedrelationship between the motor support and the cabinet. At their upperends, straps 23 are bent inwardly and permanently joined to a plate 26which serves as a top or cover to the motor support. Secured to one ofthe straps are brackets 27, the remote ends 28 of which are secured tothe end housings 29 of a motor 31. The motor is shown to be verticallydisposed, the drive shaft 32 thereof extending beyond the upper housing29.

Mounted on this shaft is a pulley 33. Another of the straps 2.3 supportsa Water pump 34. This pump includes a vertical shaft which carries adouble pulley 36. The lower portion of this pulley and pulley 33 areoperatively connected by a belt 37.

The housing that projects through the boot 17 takes the is a drive shaft44 that derives axial support from the bearing 42. The lower end of thisshaft extends beneath the plate 26 of the motor mount and carries apulley 45. A belt 46 connects pulley 45 with the'upper portion of thedouble pulley 36. member 38 is a bearing 47 which gives lateral supportto the sleeve 43. The upper end of member 38 includes an outwardlyextending annular portion 48 that provides sup- Near the upper end ofthe tubular port'for a plate 50. This plate constitutes a support forthe central base 51 of the washing receptacle 52. Inasmuch as thepresent invention is only concerned with the central base 51 andoperative structure carried thereby, no other details of the receptacleare shown or described.

The bottom wall of the receptacle 52 has a central opening thatisdefined by a depending annular flange 53. Fitting this opening andseated on flange 53 is the base 54 of the center post 56 of thereceptacle. The post 56 may, as suggested in Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawings, be filled or integrally weighted, as at 57. Enclosing the post56 is a hub 58 from which suitable agitator blades 59 extend in agenerally radial direction. The agitator drive shaft 61 projectsupwardly through the portion 57 and is connected with the hub 58 throughsuitable drive structure 62.

Depending from the base 54 of the receptacle post 56 are end bearings 63and 64, into which the upper ends of pins, hereinafter described,project. The central base 51 includes a recessed member 68 which, incooperation with the base 54 of the post, provides a housing for certainof the operative parts associated with the agitator hub 58. An annularrim 69, on the member 68, is in the vertical plane of the flange 53.Suitable material '78 is interposed between the base 54, flange 53 andrim 69 to provide a fluid tight seal as between the central base 51 andthe adjacent portion of the receptacle 52. These parts are held togetherby studs 71. The member 68 is formed to provide lower end bearings 72and 73 on vertical center with the bearings 63 and 64.

Between the lower bearings is located a mechanism generally indicated bythe reference numeral 74. This mechanism has to do with the operation ofrotating the receptacle 52 at high speed during a spin drying operation.The only association of the agitator drive mechanism, with the spinningmechanism, is found in the upper end of the shaft 44. This shaft end isshown to extend above the spin drive mechanism 74 and takes the form ofa pinion gear 76. It will be understood that this gear is driven by themotor 31 through the speed reduction mechanism already described. Thelower end of shaft 61, as may be seen in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings,extends beneath the weighted portion 57 of the receptacle post and isfitted with a gear 77.

Bearings 63 and 72 provide end supports for a pin 78. Mounted for freerotation on this pin is a gear 79. Teeth 81, onthe rim of this gear,mesh with the pinion end 76 of shaft 44. Thus, gear 79 is required torotate at all times that the motor 31 is in operation. Examination ofFig. 4 discloses the hub 82 of gear 79 to have a depending portion whichrests on the upper edge of the lower end bearing 72. An eccentric hollowpost 83, on the upper face of the gear, is formed in part by the upperportion of the hub 82. A groove 84 is formed in the outer face of thepost and extends approximately half way around the posts circumference,substantially as shown in dotted line in several of the figures of thedrawings. A nearly complete circular member 86 is formed with anuncentered opening 87 of such proportions as to enable fitting on thepost 83 with the body portion of the member serving as a countereccentric to the post. Through combination of the post 83 with member86, a complete circular-bearing 88 is produced directly above the gear79. A pin 89, carried by the member 86, projects into the groove 84toprevent axial displacement of the member from the post and .at thesame time to permit approximately 180 degrees relative rotation of thepost and member.

A-connecting rod 90 is formed at one end with a large bearing ring 91,the diameter of which is such as to receive .andvfit the bearing 88. Atthe other end of this red isa smallbearing ring .92 which receives theenlarged portion: 93. of a pin 94. A gearsegment 97 includes teeth 98that mesh with the teethof gear 77, carried by the lower end ofshaft 61.A downwardly offset arm-like portion '99 of this. segment includes abearing ring 101, the opening therein being. adapted to receive thelower end of pin 94.

As will be understood from an examination of Figs. 4 and 5 of thedrawings, the bearing ring 101 is substantially'in the arc of the teeth98 of the gear segment. The oflset portion 99 of this segment includes afurther bearing ring 102, which represents the center about which thesegment is intended to oscillate. Theopening through ring 102 permitsprojecting a pin 103 therethrough, this pin being similar to pin 78 andhaving its upper end projecting into bearing 64, and its lower end intobearing 73.

To fully understand the advantages of the invention, assembly andoperation of the parts shown and described are set out as follows: Themotor 31 is of the reversing type and, therefore, capable of rotatingshaft 44 in either direction. When shaft 44 rotates in a clockwisedirection, gear 76, formed on the upper end of this shaft, will rotategear 79 in a counter-clockwise direction. Assuming the post 83 andmember 86 to have the relationship shown in Fig. 5, it will be notedthatthe bearing 88, formed by these parts, is concentric with the shaft78. It will also be noted that pin 89, carried by the member 86, is atone end of the groove 84. Keeping in mind the fact that the post 83 mustrevolve with gear 79, it is evident that contact of the pin 89 with theend of the groove will cause the member to rotate with the post. Sincethese two parts rotate together and cooperate to form a bearingconcentric with the axis of rotation of the gear, no movement of the rodwill take place. It is in this direction of rotation of the shaft 44that the rod 90 and gear segment 97 are rendered inoperative and a spindrying operation may take place.

For purposes of explanation, it may be assumed that the above describedarrangement of the partsnamely, as shown in Fig. 5represents completionof a laundering operation. The laundered pieces may be removed from thereceptacle and other soiled pieces substituted. When the receptacle isfilled to the proper level for a washing operation, the motor 31 isstarted and operates in a reverse direction. This causes shaft 44 torotate in a counter-clockwise direction and, of course, gear 79 nowrotates clockwise. Initial movement of gear 79 swings the post 83 fromthe 'positionof Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 7. The only movement of member 86up to this point is lateral, inasmuch as the pin 89, carried thereby, isfree to travel in the groove 84. At such time as the gear 79 has made aone-half revolution, post 83 will have moved to the position shown inFig. 6 and pin 89 of member 86 engaged with the other end of the groove84. It is now evident that the post and member cooperate to form thebearing 88 in eccentric relationship to the axis of rotation of the gear79 and, consequently, this bearing will act as a crank to producereciprocating movement of the rod 90. Inasmuch as this rod is connectedthrough segment 97 and shaft '61 with the agitator, said agitator willoscillate to an extent determined by the throw of the rod 90. It isimmaterial at what position this mechanism is stopped inasmuch as therelationship of the parts forming the now eccentrically located bearingwill remain the same even though the motor is again started, provided,of course,

' gear 79 continues to rotate in a clockwise direction.

Upon completion of an agitating operation, or the completion of desiredreciprocal movement of the rod 90, the motor may be operated in thereverse direction, again causing the shaft 44 to rotate in a clockwisedirection. The first half rotation of gear 79 in a clockwise directionwill rearrange the parts of the bearing 88 so that the bearing againbecomes concentric With the gear 79. Viewing the drawings, the steps bywhich this occurs are shown consecutively in Figs. 6, 7, and 5.

From the foregoing it will be evident that through use of the mechanismdescribed it is possible to eliminate. any form of conventional clutch.Furthermore, the present device is rendered operative or inoperative, asdesired, without manual manipulation of parts and merely by reversingthe direction, of rotation of the motor shaft. The extent ofreciprocation of rod 90 and oscillation of segnot w e.) w,

ment 97 may be varied by the simple expedient of changing the length ofthe groove 84. In other words, the parts making up the bearing 88 may berelatively adjusted to form a bearing that is less eccentric than thearrangement shown in Fig. 6. By reason of the design and arrangement ofthe parts that go to make up what may betermed a combined throwout andoscillating mechanism, it is possible to mount this entire mechanismwithin the base of a washing receptacle that is used in a spin dryingoperation. Thus, the parts of the present mechanism also serve as aweight or ballast in the base of the receptacle during a spinningoperation.

Although applicant has shown and described only one form of theinvention 'as applied to the operation of oscillating a washing machineagitator, it will be understood that the mechanism in its present ormodified form is equally applicable for use in other instances requiringreciprocating or oscillating movement, and it is contemplated that thestructural parts may be modified without in any way departing from thespirit and scope of the invention insofar as such modification is Withinthe meaning of the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, What I claim as new and for which Idesire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. A mechanism for reciprocating a rod having a bear- .ing ring at oneend thereof, said mechanism, comprising a gear operatively engaged witha reversible drive shaft, a bearing on said gear engaged by said ring,relatively movable parts forming said bearing, said parts beingrelatively rotatable to form 'a bearing concentric with said gear whensaid shaft is rotated in one direction and being reversely relativelyrotatable to form said bearing eccentric to said gear when said shaft isrotated in the opposite direction and cooperating means on said partsfor eifecting relative rotation thereof.

2. A mechanism for selectively oscillating a fixed pivot segmentcomprising a gear mounted for rotation about a fixed pivot, said gearbeing engaged with a reversible drive pinion, a hub on said geareccentric to the axis of rotation of said gear, a member interfittingsaid hub and being rotatable with'respect thereto, said member,

in one position, cooperating with said hub to form a bearing concentricwith the axis of rotation of said gear and in another positioncooperating With said hub to form a bearing of corresponding diametereccentric to said gear axis, a rod pivotally connected at one end withof rotation of said drive pinion.

3. A mechanism for oscillating a fixed pivot segment comprising a gearmounted for rotation about an axis parallel with the pivot for saidsegment, a rod pivotally connected atone end with a swingable portion ofsaid' segment, a hearing at the other end of said rod, an upstandingeccentric post on said gear, a member forming part of said gearcooperating with said post to provide a circular bearingoperativelyengaged by said ring, said member being rotatable about said post tooff-center said bearing whereby to produce a reciprocating motion ofsaid rod when said gear is rotated in a given direction and means onsaid member and said post cooperating to efiect such rotation of saidmember.

4. A mechanism for selectively oscillating a fixed pivot segmentcomprising a gear mounted for rotation about a fixed pivot, said gearbeing engaged with and operable by a reversible drive pinion, a hub onsaid gear eccentric to the axis of rotation of said gear, said hubhaving a radially outwardly opening groove continuous through a portionof the periphery of said hub, a member interfitting said hub and beingrotatable with respect thereto, a pin carried by said member projectinginto said groove,

. said member, when said pin is at one end of said' groove,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS1,985,273 Altorfer Dec. 25, 1934 2,002,573 Green May 28, 1935 2,111,143Geldhof Mar. 15, 1938 2,592,237 Bradley Apr. 8, 1952

